Stress has long been known to trigger the flare-up of all sorts of illnesses. So there’s no surprise that stress impacts periodontal disease.

The thing about stress is that it arrests the body’s autoimmune system and prevents it from effectively fighting off bacteria and other germs. Therefore, when you’re stressed, your body loses its ability to protect itself from anything that can make it weak.

Stress Impacts Periodontal Disease

It is important to point out as well that when the body is ill, the chemistry of the mouth changes. For most people, the mouth becomes dry. A dry mouth is an ideal breeding environment for gum disease-causing bacteria. It goes without saying that where there are more bacteria in the mouth, the delicate balance gets thrown off, making the mouth prone to gum inflammation and bad breath – precursors to periodontal disease.

It is worth noting as well that when a person is stressed, the body becomes greatly acidic. You will notice it in your breath when your body’s acidic. Even if you have brushed your teeth, your breath can smell like acetone – a common sign of high acidity. For the body to be healthy, it should be alkaline.

That is how stress impacts periodontal disease.

Improvements to Help with Periodontal Disease

Beating stress to help treat your periodontal disease is not that difficult. A few lifestyle changes can actually do wonders. Consult with Dr. Farhat on dental products that you can use. Toothpaste and mouthwashes that are specifically formulated for dry mouth always help, for example. These can restore the right pH balance of the mouth.

A change in diet is also helpful. Eating fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps because omega-3s have been proven to work against stress hormones. Dark chocolate is also a good treat because it has chemicals that can trigger the release of endorphins (also known as the happy hormones), which fight stress hormones that weaken the body.

Taking health supplements may also yield positive effects because with more nutrients in the system boosting your autoimmunity, you can thwart bacterial action in your mouth.

Life without Stress

A life without stress is certainly ideal, but that is simply hard to achieve. If you want to improve your oral health and prevent periodontal disease from becoming one of your health issues, the best thing to do is to learn to manage stress.

Get some help from your dentist and follow their instructions religiously. Likewise, dedicate a lot of time and effort to personal care. Once you start taking care of yourself more, you will improve your overall health and not get stressed as easily. Visit our blog to learn more oral health tips and tricks.

Getting professional teeth cleaning services is important because this will reduce the risk of gum disease and cavities. But do you know how often you should schedule for professional dental cleanings?

Basically, you must have your teeth professionally cleaned as frequently as Dr. Farhat suggests. Oftentimes, this will depend on your commitment to maintaining a good oral hygiene and on the health of your teeth and gums.

Is Annual Teeth Cleaning Enough?

When determining how often you must have professional teeth cleaning, there are several factors that come into play. These include your routine oral hygiene, health history and lifestyle.

There are those who only need an annual dental cleaning, also known as periodontal maintenance, while others may need to undergo cleaning more often than that.

If your teeth and gums are healthy and you do not have risk factors for developing gingivitis or gum disease, you may only need professional dental cleanings once a year. But even if you only receive an annual dental cleaning, a Sterling Heights Dentists, emphasizes the importance of visiting Dr. Farhat once every six months.

During your visit, Dr. Farhat will use professional tools to remove plaque, bacteria and tartar from your teeth and gums to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth loss. These tools are capable of removing any plaque buildup that proper brushing and flossing cannot remove.

Why You May Need More Dental Cleanings

If you commit to keeping your teeth healthy and strong, or if you have gum disease, you can benefit from frequent dental cleanings.

There are cases wherein Dr. Farhat may recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned every month for a span of six months, then once every three months afterwards. The duration and frequency of this aggressive treatment varies. This usually depends on the level of your commitment to achieving a beautiful smile or on the severity of your gum disease.

But when you already have a history of gum disease, you may be advised to get your teeth cleaned more often in order to prevent its reoccurrence. Moreover, if you suffer from diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions, frequent professional dental cleanings might be necessary.

Aside from that, you might need dental cleanings more frequently if you smoke. Smoking will stain your teeth permanently as well as create tooth and gum problems.

Dr. Farhat will evaluate your gums and teeth. In addition, he as establish your risk factors for developing gingivitis in order to determine how often you should get your teeth professionally cleaned. From there, work out a schedule to visit Dental One Care for cleanings. You may also be provided with tips to maintain the benefits of a professional dental cleaning between your visits.

Flossing isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Although flossing is a crucial part of oral hygiene, floss can sometimes get stuck in between your teeth. This can be painful and difficult to remove. It can also be exasperating to have the floss suddenly break or snap while flossing as well. Because of these, many people do not like flossing and neglect to practice this important oral hygiene habit.

Choosing the right type of floss can help you have an easier time flossing. But dental flosses come in different types, size, and materials.

Multifilament floss

This is the most popular and commonly used type of dental floss. This fabric floss is made of silk or nylon that consists of many thin strands wound together. Also, this type of floss comes in waxed or un-waxed varieties.

Additionally, the waxed variety makes it easier for you to slide or glide the floss between your teeth. However, both waxed and un-waxed types are effective in removing debris from your teeth if used properly.

Multifilament floss is typically recommended for people who have gaps between their teeth that are not too tight.

Dental tape or puffy floss

Dental tape is a wider type of floss. It is a flat nylon ribbon which people with severe gum disease or large spaces between their teeth can safely use for flossing. Most people find dental tape easier to use because of its flat shape.

Monofilament floss

Monofilament floss is a newer type of floss which is made of rubber, plastic or polytetrafluoroethylene. This type of floss is un-waxed and is stronger than multifilament floss. Therefore, it will hold out when it is being pulled between tight teeth.

This type of floss is highly recommended for people who have small spaces between their teeth and those who always seem to have difficulties using multifilament floss without breaking it.

Floss picks

A floss or flosser pick is a cross between a toothpick and dental floss. It has a pointed plastic pick on one end and a length of floss between two plastic prongs on the other.

Flossers are useful for kids and adults with limited dexterity or small mouths. In addition, they often have difficulties fitting their fingers in their mouth or maneuvering regular floss between their teeth.

Super Floss

This type of multifilament floss has stiff ends which can be used to thread the floss between braces or other dental appliances.

According to Dental One Care, the best type of floss to choose will depend on your personal preference. If you find using dental tape easier, use this type of floss. You can also start teaching your child how to use a floss pick so that even at an early age, your little one will know the importance of flossing.

Have you heard of All-on-4 or All-on-6 dental implants? If you have missing teeth and you are considering getting dental implants, one of these procedures could be your best option. These treatments are quite similar but have some key differences, so Dr. Farhat may recommend one procedure over the other depending on your unique situation.

Similarities Between Dental Implants

Both All-on-4 and All-on-6 dental implants are effective solutions for those who lost several teeth. Both procedures will involve the surgical placement of dental implants in your jaw to maintain its structural integrity after tooth loss. Typically, both treatments will take about two to three hours to be completed.

During both procedures, you will be under general anesthesia. The implants will bond with the jaw to imitate the pressure placed on it by natural teeth. Depending on the procedure, your removable or fixed denture will fasten to four or six implants. All the teeth will be connected but will only have four or six roots that go into your jaw.

During the past couple of years, replacing a set of teeth required many more implants and could even include jaw bone grafting. Thus, the healing process may take up to six months before your mouth becomes ready for the dentures or crowns. With this advanced approach, however, there will be a shorter healing period because there are fewer implants involved. Also, the temporary dentures can be installed at the same time until the permanent dentures are ready, which often takes up to three months.

Differences Between Dental Implants

The number of implants that are added is the most obvious difference between All-on-4 and All-on-6 dental implants. All-on-4 makes use of four implants while All-on-6 utilizes six implants. But aside from this, there are other differences that should be considered. Dr. Farhat will choose which procedure is better based on clinical opinions and practices.

Often, the All-on-6 procedure is highly recommended because this provides better stability and strength, resulting in a longer-lasting, more comfortable smile. Every time you bite or chew on something, it is crucial for the pressure to be dispersed evenly to your implants and jaw. Most dentists believe that the placement and location of the two additional implants will provide a considerable amount of added stability, strength, and long-term benefit.

Without your teeth, your jawbone starts to break down. Thus, people who have worn dentures for quite a long time usually look older. Also, their jaw appears to be sunken in if they take off their dentures. With dental implants, this won’t happen since the implants will stimulate the jawbone. In fact, it can even keep your jawbone stronger. The All-on-6 dental implants provide additional strength and stimulation to your jawbone.

Both approaches are excellent permanent solutions if you have lost several teeth and you want to regain a confident smile. The recovery period and adjustment will be minimal. If you need a major dental reconstruction, visit Dental One Care and find out which of these two procedures is best for you.

Dental X-rays help dental professionals like Dr. Farhart, visualize the problems and diseases of the teeth and their surrounding tissues. Moreover, they help thedentist determine and treat any dental problem early in their development. As such, they help you save money and prevent any unnecessary discomfort.

Problems that dental X-rays can detect include tooth decay that is not visible with an oral exam, bone loss, abscess, and other developmental abnormalities like cysts and tumors. For children, dental X-rays are used to watch for decay, to determine if there is sufficient space in the mouth for all incoming teeth, and to check for impacted teeth.

How Often Should Your Teeth Be X-Rayed?

Most people ask, “When do I get dental X-rays? How often should my teeth be X-rayed?” Reputable dental professionals say that the frequency of getting dental X-rays will depend on your dental and medical history, along with your current condition. There are some people who need X-rays every six months while others may only need to get X-rays every two to three years.

If you are a new patient, our Dental One Care team might take X-rays as part of the initial dental exam. This will help establish a baseline record from which to compare the changes that might happen over time.

The American Dental Association or ADA provided X-Ray recommendations:

Before taking any X-rays, dentists must always perform a clinical examination as well as evaluate the oral and medical history of the patient.

If you have a history of periodontal problems or extensive decay, Dr. Farhat will take more X-rays of your teeth.

Children usually need more X-rays than adults because of their developing teeth and jaws.

Even if you do not need frequent dental X-rays, you should still see Farhat regularly for routine oral check-ups.

How to Keep X-Rays to a Minimum

Practice good oral care – Always maintain good dental health with a routine of proper brushing and flossing. Also, see Farhat on a regular basis for check-ups and cleaning.

Talk to Dr. Farhat – If you have concerns about how frequently X-rays should be taken, discuss all of them with Dr. Farhat. You can be provided with suggestions about how to go longer between radiation exposures without compromising your oral health.

Bring your most recent X-rays each time you change Dr. Farhat.

Dental X-rays are necessary because they can identify problems that can’t be detected through a simple dental examination. This way, these dental issues won’t become worse and more difficult to treat. But make sure that before having X-rays, Dr. Farhat provides you with a valid clinical reason.

An injury to the teeth doesn’t happen often to regular folks. However, the stats are high for those in sports, where there’s always the possibility of falling and bumping into things and other people. Dr. Farhat shares his solutions for tooth and nerve trauma.

Athletes are quite prone to tooth and nerve trauma; they can chip or break their teeth, dislodge the teeth, completely lose a tooth, or have a tooth hit so bad, it turns a sick grey color. For such an injury, an endodontic treatment is required.

There are different types of endodontic treatments that Dental One Care offers. You have a simple root canal therapy for teeth with infected pulp due to cavities, and endodontic surgery for complex dental issues.

Different Types of Tooth and Nerve Trauma, Plus Treatment

For all types of tooth and nerve trauma, an endodontist would have to examine the injury thoroughly first. It will involve taking radiographs (or x-rays) to get the full picture of the teeth and surrounding bone structures. After the extent of damage is established, the repair will commence.

A small chipped tooth will be filled with a tooth-colored filling. Meanwhile, a crown fracture will receive a root canal treatment, especially if the patient feels intense pain. Afterwards, a crown will be placed to secure the hollowed tooth. For split teeth or a vertical fracture, tooth extraction is usually the best solution.

Knocked-out teeth

Knocked-out teeth are a dental emergency. It’s imperative to save the teeth and get the patient to the dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will put the tooth back in its original place and support it with a splint. And depending on the stage of root development, the endodontist may perform a root canal treatment, which will eventually be followed by the application of permanent root canal filling.

As for luxated teeth, wherein teeth either get pushed up into their socket or partially knocked out of their socket, time is also of the essence. Make the trip to the dentist right away so he can reposition the teeth and stabilize them with a splint.

Root Canal Treatment

Just like with knocked-out teeth, a root canal treatment may be necessary as well for luxated teeth, but it will involve the application of calcium hydroxide inside the tooth. After a few weeks, root canal filling will be placed.

If the root has been fractured, a stabilization splint is also the solution dentists use.

Success in treating tooth and nerve trauma relies so much on promptness and post-treatment care. Timely treatment is an absolute must, and it should be followed by proper care of the injured teeth and consistent oral hygiene.